Published December 18, 2015 at 9:31 PM Updated January 5, 2016 at 11:04 AM

At his end of the year news conference, U.S. President Barack Obama took a victory lap of sorts, claiming credit for the U.S. economic recovery. Questions from journalists, though, focused on his handling of the Syrian civil war and the rise of ISIL.

CCTV America’s Jim Spellman reports from Washington.

Different focuses for journalists, Obama at year-end presser

Different focuses for journalists, Obama at year-end presser

At his end of the year news conference, U.S. President Barack Obama took a victory lap of sorts, claiming credit for the U.S. economic recovery. Questions from journalists, though, focused on his handling of the Syrian civil war and the rise of ISIL. CCTV America's Jim Spellman reports from Washington.

Obama defended his administration’s airstrikes against the Islamic State, but the U.S. president admitted that airstrikes alone won’t stop terror attacks around the world.

The White House is working with Russia and others to forge a political solution to the civil war in Syria, so all sides can focus on fighting ISIL.